very Nervous

[archer07]

Hi All. I am a 33 year old white female. Within the past week I have developed severe pain in my legs, lower arm, elbows and hands. At times I feel very dizzy like I am going to pass out. I am exhausted all of the time. I went to my doctors and they ruled out b12, diabities, lupus..etc. My doctor said these new signs may be MS. That scared me a lot. He wanted me to go to an ortho just to make sure. Went yesterday and everything was good. I am scheduled to see a nuero on 10/5. The waiting is horrible. Does this sound like MS to anyone. I have also had pins and needles in my hands. Other than all of this I have been pretty healthy. Kindey stones 10 years ago and within the past year some ulcers in my esophoogus. Any help would be really appreciated.

[ElliotB]

No need to be nervous. Just be patient and let your doctor's do their job in diagnosing you.

[archer07]

Thanks. I'm trying. Does it sound like MS?

[euphoniaa]

Thanks. I'm trying. Does it sound like MS?

Hi archer and welcome! I'm sorry you're going through this. As for your specific question, though, MS seems to be completely unique to each of us. We each have different symptoms and history, and there's no single definitive test for MS.

I'm glad to see you have a 'team' of medical professionals evaluating you, so, like Elliott said, you will just have to wait for them to do their job. Others may stop in to give you their OWN personal opinions, suggestions, or their favorite theories, but keep in mind that none of us here are medical professionals or experts -- we're all just sufferers (or caregivers) who care and wish you well.

The few symptoms you have given, however, don't sound very specific to MS (in my own non-expert opinion). Vague, unexplained symptoms serve only to lead doctors toward TESTING for more definite findings -- not a quick diagnosis. In my case, I was diagnosed without even offering a list of symptoms -- apparently my doctor got his clues from my reflexes and his own observations in my exam.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[ElliotB]

There are around 400 illnesses that mimic the symptoms of MS, so a diagnosis of MS can sometimes be difficult to determine. Again, let your doctors do their jobs, and be patient.

There are many things you can do now to feel better and feel better sooner, regardless of the final diagnosis - eat better, exercise more, sleep more, eliminate as much stress from your life as possible, take supplements - in other words, become as healthy as you can.

[lyndacarol]

Hi All. I am a 33 year old white female. Within the past week I have developed severe pain in my legs, lower arm, elbows and hands. At times I feel very dizzy like I am going to pass out. I am exhausted all of the time. I went to my doctors and they ruled out b12, diabities, lupus..etc. My doctor said these new signs may be MS. That scared me a lot. He wanted me to go to an ortho just to make sure. Went yesterday and everything was good. I am scheduled to see a nuero on 10/5. The waiting is horrible. Does this sound like MS to anyone. I have also had pins and needles in my hands. Other than all of this I have been pretty healthy. Kindey stones 10 years ago and within the past year some ulcers in my esophoogus. Any help would be really appreciated.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, archer07. I offer you my opinion:

The symptoms you have (pain, dizziness, extreme fatigue, "pins and needles" in hands) are common to many conditions, which must be ruled out first before the MS diagnosis can be made – MS is just one of the possibilities. MS is a diagnosis of exclusion; there is no specific test to identify MS, as euphoniaa has said.

Since one of the conditions that could very possibly be responsible for your symptoms is vitamin B12 deficiency, I wonder how this has been ruled out by your doctor. Since it is estimated that 40% of the American population has sub-optimal B12 levels, it was very logical for your doctors to begin by investigating B12. Any person at any age can develop a B12 deficiency.

The "serum B12" test alone is not adequate to do this – this test is outdated and unreliable; its results are easily skewed (for instance, taking a vitamin B supplement before testing may artificially raise the level). The newer, more reliable HoloTc test is preferred (but not yet available everywhere). Thorough initial B12 testing should have also included an "RBC folate" test AND a serum homocysteine test AND a methylmalonic acid test.

It is a good idea to request your own copy of any test results. If you have the results of these 4 tests, are you willing to share them with us?

To proceed in the investigation of your symptoms, additional nutrient testing is often recommended: magnesium, iron, zinc, and others.

The tingling in your hands is textbook definition of "peripheral neuropathy." It is a common symptom in many conditions (and is the most commonly reported symptom in B12 deficiency). In investigating the cause of peripheral neuropathy, the University of Chicago suggests the following:

http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchic ... #bloodtest\

Blood tests

Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response.

Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:

Vitamin B12 and folate levels
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B

Has your GP investigated all these possibilities? Gluten sensitivity (a.k.a. a milder degree of celiac disease) is VERY prevalent today.

[euphoniaa]

There are around 400 illnesses that mimic the symptoms of MS, so a diagnosis of MS can sometimes be difficult to determine. Again, let your doctors do their jobs, and be patient.

There are many things you can do now to feel better and feel better sooner, regardless of the final diagnosis - eat better, exercise more, sleep more, eliminate as much stress from your life as possible, take supplements - in other words, become as healthy as you can.

I completely agree with Elliot here that optimizing your health is the best thing you can do, and continue with that plan no matter the outcome of your investigation. Well, except in my case I have to be careful with supplements, but I do take a couple.

Please beware of bombarding yourself with something suggested on the internet -- like B12, for instance. NO vitamins & supplements are entirely safe at any dosage level, even if that's due to the fillers or purity issues. I get side effects from most all of them, even B12.

[archer07]

Thank you all. My dr has ruled out b12 lymes lupus and diabetes. He normally gas a good poker face but when I was describing my symptoms he seemed to think MS. I know there is a lot of things out there. My next appointment is with a neurologist on the 5th. Can they rule out a lot of these mimic diseases?

[lyndacarol]

Thank you all. My dr has ruled out b12 lymes lupus and diabetes. He normally gas a good poker face but when I was describing my symptoms he seemed to think MS. I know there is a lot of things out there. My next appointment is with a neurologist on the 5th. Can they rule out a lot of these mimic diseases?

I believe that if you see a specialist about a problem, he will find a solution only in his specialty; if you see a neuro, he will only see the problem/solution in neurology. This has been my experience. I suspect that the neurologist you will see on the 5th will only consider possible neurological problems.

I have read: "doctors are experts in, and only test for, those parts of the body in which they specialize."

[ElliotB]

You may find this of interest:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/For-Pr ... g-Criteria

(details the established 2010 McDonald MS Diagnostic Criteria)

Make sure you are seeing a neurologist who specializes in MS.